AO NORTH AMERICA NEWS
AONA Preceptorships
One of the most popular and well-utilized
programs available through AO North
America is the Visiting Professor
Preceptorship program. More than thirty-
five AO visiting professorships were
supported by AO North America in 2001,
allowing that number of North American
hospitals to "Invite an AO expert" to
visit, lecture, participate in Grand
Rounds, and interact with Residents and
staff. AO Visiting Professors from Europe
and Latin America, as well as the United
States, participated in this program.
Guidelines and applications for available
preceptorships may be found in your
AO North America User’s Manual, on the
AONA web site, or by contacting the
AO North America office. These
programs are summarized below:
1. AO North America Visiting
Professorship Program
(Invite an AO Expert)
This program, which has been very
popular since its inception, provides the
financial capability for a hospital to invite
one of the senior AO Faculty members
(orthopaedic trauma/spine/maxillofacial
or veterinary) as a Visiting Professor. The
format for the Visiting Professorship can
be any length of time, using any format
of training, such as lectures, workshops,
x -ray conferences, or a combination of
these. Foreign AO faculty may also be
invited. Once approved, AO North
America will reimburse the Visiting
Professor for travel and hotel expenses,
as well as an honorarium of $500.
2. AO North America Basic Fracture
Management Preceptorship
This preceptorship is intended to provide
a senior-level Resident with an in-depth
period of training in the basic
management of fractures, at a recognized
AO North America center, or with a
surgeon member of AO North America.
This will provide the resident with a oneon-
one relationship with a practicing
AO surgeon, so that the individual will
gain a deeper insight into the management
of fractures. This preceptorship is not
meant to replace a Trauma fellowship,
but rather to provide the individual with a
more in-depth study so that he/she may
better practice care. Available to PGY-4
or -5 residents; each preceptorship will be
funded up to $3,000 to support this
training experience.
3. AO North America Trauma and
Fracture Care Traveling Preceptorship
This preceptorship was created for the
practicing physician to improve or refine
his/her skills at an AO Center, under the
guidance of an AONA member. This
preceptorship should involve a minimum of
four weeks training in an AO Center, with
funding of up to $5,000 available to support
living expenses, etc. for each preceptorship.
4. AONA Resident Research Project
Support Program
Realizing how difficult it can be for
surgical residents to gain approval and
funding for small research projects,
AO North America provides a Resident
Research Project Support program. This
program will fund (up to $5,000)
worthwhile research projects initiated
by residents in the orthopaedic,
maxillofacial, spine and veterinary
specialties. Guidelines and application
forms for this program are available
through the AO North America office.
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